Association of
Collectors
M. Jancakova
Miscellaneous
Josef Liesler
born on September 19, 1912 in Vidolice
lives in Prague
He studied the arts at the College of Architecture
and Landscape Construction in Prague and - among
others - he was a pupil of Cyril Bouda. With his
works, he is part of various collections of the
Czech National Gallery in Prague, but also in many
galleries of cities both in the Czech Republic and
abroad.
Liesler not only is member of the two best known
artistic associations of the Czech Republic - SVU
MANES, the association of fine arts since 1942 and
SCUG HOLLAR, the association of the Czech print
artists since 1945 -, he also is member of the
Royal Belgian Academy and of the Academy of Fine
Arts in Florence (Italy).
Right at the beginning, he was influenced by
admiring old masters like Duerer, El Greco,
Velasquez, Goya or Daumier. He also was inspired
by literature, music, history and religion. First,
he reached public attention in 1939, when he took
part of the first legendary exhibition of the
so-called group "Sedm v rink" (The Seven
in October). And from this time on, he had his
roots among the young generation of Czechoslovak
artists from the 40ies. The artists of this
generation tried to reflect in their works the
depressing atmosphere of the German occupation in
the Protectorate "Boehmen und Maehren"
and of World War II by their surrealistic style.
He reached masterly skill in nearly all graphic
techniques; among others wood cut, lithography,
sculpture and graphic illustration. Sovereign
lineation, a feeling for dynamic compositions and
a masterly use of naive painting made Josef
Liesler to a non-interchangeable personality full
of expression.
Batz, Gerhard: Lexikon tschechischer und slowakischer Briefmarkenkuenstler, 2002
Email ivanbohac@seznam.cz